Prophylactic sheath or envelope



Nov. 27 1945. 5, J WELSH 2,38%,831

PROPHYLACTIC SHEATH OR ENVELOPE Filed May 11, 1944' INVENTOR SAMUEL J. WELSH 3 ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 27, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Pnornrmc'rrc snm'm on ENVELOPE Samuel J. Welsh, New York, N. Y. Application May 11, 1944, Serial No. 535,059 2 Claims. (01. 2-21) The present invention relates to a waterproof prophylactic sheath or envelope.

Heretofore devices that were used to protect a body appendage against infection, for example, a finger or a toe having open or broken skin, could not be made completely waterproof because the open end thereof either remained free or was provided with tieing tapes, bands or strips which did not prevent moisture and the like from entering into the sheath or envelope.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a protective sheath or envelope-which has means arranged on the inside surface thereof adjacent the open end, which engage and adhere to the surface of the appendage so that a moistureproof binding or joint is made between the sheath or envelope and the appendage.

The present invention furthercontemplates the provision of a moistureproof sheath or envelope which is relatively inexpensive, one that can be easily and quickly adjusted on an appendage and easily removed therefrom, although a waterproof joint at the open end is made with the appendage on which the sheath or envelope has been arranged.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be clear from the description which follows and the drawing in which Fig. l is an elevation of a sheath 0r envelope according to my invention in the first stage of its manufacture.

Fig. 2 is a similar view thereof in another stage of manufacture and showing the protective gauze arranged on the adhesive.

Fig. 3 is a partial view of the sheath or envelope rolled into the form in which it is to be commercially sold.

Fig. 4 is an elevation illustrating the sheath or envelope as it is first fitted on a human appendage, such as a finger.

Fig. 5 is a similar view prior to the removal of the protective gauze and the final position on a finger.

Fig. 6 is an elevation illustrating the sheath or envelope arranged for use.

Referring now to the drawing, my invention comprises the sheath or element 10, which is made of any suitable material such as a film of rubber or equivalent material and which is closed at one end and open at the other end.

Arranged around the edge at the open end l2 of the sheath or envelope, I provide a band I of a waterproof pressure adhesive coating. This adhesive is of the type that does not require.

moistening but will adhere to an object when have come to be conventionally referred to as Scotch tape.

It will be noted that the adhesive I 4 has been coatedon that surface of the sheath or envelope which is the outside during its manufacture, but

which will constitute the inside thereof when it is in use.

In order to protect the adhesive l4, after it is coated on the sheath or envelope, I arrange thereon a strip of coarsely woven gauze l6, that is one that has relatively large interstices and free at one or both endsso that it may be easily removed as the sheath or envelope is secured in place. To enable the gauze IE to stretch with the elastic sheath or envelope, I prefer to use an elastic gauze.

After the adhesive coating has been formed on the sheath or envelope and the protective gauze arranged thereon, it is rolled into the form illustrated in Fig. 3, the sheath or envelope having been rolled inside out to reverse the uncoated and coated surfaces. In this form the surface 18 on which the adhesive band I4 is coated is now arranged inside the sheath or envelope and the surface 20 which was on the inside of the sheath or envelope during its manufacture is arranged on the outside thereof.

In order to arrange the sheath or envelope on a finger, the end of the finger is placed inside the rolled sheath against the surface 18, as illustrated in Fig. 4, the rolled edge 22 thus in proper position to be moved or forced down on the finger as the edge is unrolled- Just prior to the final or enveloping position on the finger, the adhesive band 14 and protective gauze l6 are bent up and appear on the outside 0f the sheath with its free ends 23 accessible, as

illustrated in Fig. 5. The adhesive band is preferably A," to in width, which is wide enough to form a water tight joint around the appendage and, as illustrated in Fig; 5, permits the sheath or envelope to be unrolled to the position in which only that portion of the inside surface 18 on which is coated the adhesiveband appears on the outside just prior to the final unrolling of the sheath.

At this point the adhesive gauze I6 is removed, thereby exposing the adhesive band 14 for engagement with the object on which the sheath or envelope is arranged.

Completely unrolling the edge brings the adhesive coating on the inside of sheath or envelope into engagement with the appendage, relatively slight pressure at the uncoated edge 24 causing the adhesive to adhere to the appendage (finger) to form a tight waterproof joint therewith.

The sheath or envelope I now forms a prophyiatic guard or shield preventing entry of moisture or the like into the envelope or sheath in contact with the appendage to thereby fully protect it against infection. t

When desired, the sheath or envelope may be readily removed by pulling the pressure adhesive away from the appendage and rolling the sheath or envelope up therefrom. a

It will now be apparent that I have provided a prophylactic sheath or envelope which may be quickly and easily arranged on an appendage,

may be made in various convenient sizes, is inexpensive and which lends itself to conventional manufacturing processes.

It wilhbe further apparent that a sheath or envelope according to my invention provides a waterproof joint on the inside thereof which contacts or engages the appendage on which it is arranged to seal it from any exposure.

While I have described and illustrated one em- 1. A prophylactic sheath or envelope closed at one end and open at the other end, a band of a pressure, water proof adhesive coated on the in- .side of the sheath or envelope around the edge 2. A prophylactic sheath or envelope closed at one end and open at the other end, a band of water proof adhesive coated on the inside of the sheath or envelope around the edge of the open bodiment of my invention I do not desire to be a limited thereto but intend to claim my invention as broadly 'as the state of the art and scope of the appended claims permit.

v I claim:

end and extending on the inside of the sheath or envelope away from the edge and a strip of gauze having relatively large interstices covering the band of adhesive, said'envelope or sheath normally in the form of a rolled article with the band in position to be disposed on the inside of the sheath or envelope upon 'unrollingit and the gauze, prior to completely unrolling the sheath or envelope, on the outside of the remaining unrolled portion thereof SAMUEL J. WELSH. 

